?Perry?s Perspective? Linsemaker from BetWWTS
MLB Feature: NL playoff patsies go head-to-head
Yawn?Atlanta is once again in the post-season. What is this, the 50th year in a row that they?ve won the NL East?
Sure seems like it.
It?s actually the 14th straight year they?ve won the division, a major league record. And while that?s all well and good, the Braves have only been able to win one measly World Series, and that was 10 years ago. In fact, Atlanta has not reached the National League Championship Series (NLCS) since 2001 and has not advanced to the World Series since 1999.
The first team to take a swing at knocking out the Braves will be the Houston Astros, another successful post-season patsy who have reached the playoffs for the second straight year and the sixth time in last nine years. Although they?re the Wild Card team, we currently have the Astros (89-73) as a slight -115 favorite to win the best-of-five divisional series; the Braves (90-72) are listed at -105.
Up until last year, the Braves had eliminated the Astros in divisional series three times since 1997. But Houston reversed the trend last October, beating the Braves in five games. So far this season, these two teams have met six times with the Braves having won five of those matchups. In fact, the last time they met in Atlanta, the Braves easily swept the Astros in four games, winning by a combined score of 38-8.
Granted, that was back in May when the Astros were horrible, having compiled a pitiful 15-30 record to start the season. But with 43-year-old Roger Clemens (13-8, 1.87 ERA) leading the charge, the Astros bounced back in the second half becoming the first team to make the post-season after falling 15 games below .500 since the Boston Braves in 1914.
The series opener goes today (4:05 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Atlanta with veteran lefty Andy Pettitte (17-9, 2.39 ERA) taking the mound against right-hander Tim Hudson (14-9, 3.52 ERA). Pettitte has faced the Braves once this season, giving up three runs on seven hits over seven innings in a 4-1 loss. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound 33-year-old has been on fire in the second half of the season having gone 14-2 with a 1.56 ERA since June, tops in the major leagues.
A 10-year veteran, Pettitte has 30 post-season starts with a record of 13-8 and a 4.05 ERA.
Hudson has not pitched against the Astros this season. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound 30-year-old is 1-2 with a 3.44 ERA in seven playoff appearances, all with Oakland. The Braves are 7-2 in Hudson?s last nine starts.
This tight pitching matchup has meant a fairly low posted total of 7.5 runs. However, something to keep in mind is that the umpire calling this game will be Joe Brinkman, who has an 18-11 OVER/UNDER record this season.
The Braves are hometown favorites in this contest at -111, with the Astros dogs at +101.
The runline has Atlanta at -1.5 +200 and Houston at +1.5 -240. If you?re considering taking the runline, here?s an interesting tidbit for you: the Astros have won 25 one-run games this season and have played in 78 games decided by one or two runs.
The Astros enter the post-season having won four of their last six games. Meanwhile, the Braves have lost five of their last six including four straight.
Good luck with your bets.
BetWWTS
MLB Feature: NL playoff patsies go head-to-head
Yawn?Atlanta is once again in the post-season. What is this, the 50th year in a row that they?ve won the NL East?
Sure seems like it.
It?s actually the 14th straight year they?ve won the division, a major league record. And while that?s all well and good, the Braves have only been able to win one measly World Series, and that was 10 years ago. In fact, Atlanta has not reached the National League Championship Series (NLCS) since 2001 and has not advanced to the World Series since 1999.
The first team to take a swing at knocking out the Braves will be the Houston Astros, another successful post-season patsy who have reached the playoffs for the second straight year and the sixth time in last nine years. Although they?re the Wild Card team, we currently have the Astros (89-73) as a slight -115 favorite to win the best-of-five divisional series; the Braves (90-72) are listed at -105.
Up until last year, the Braves had eliminated the Astros in divisional series three times since 1997. But Houston reversed the trend last October, beating the Braves in five games. So far this season, these two teams have met six times with the Braves having won five of those matchups. In fact, the last time they met in Atlanta, the Braves easily swept the Astros in four games, winning by a combined score of 38-8.
Granted, that was back in May when the Astros were horrible, having compiled a pitiful 15-30 record to start the season. But with 43-year-old Roger Clemens (13-8, 1.87 ERA) leading the charge, the Astros bounced back in the second half becoming the first team to make the post-season after falling 15 games below .500 since the Boston Braves in 1914.
The series opener goes today (4:05 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Atlanta with veteran lefty Andy Pettitte (17-9, 2.39 ERA) taking the mound against right-hander Tim Hudson (14-9, 3.52 ERA). Pettitte has faced the Braves once this season, giving up three runs on seven hits over seven innings in a 4-1 loss. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound 33-year-old has been on fire in the second half of the season having gone 14-2 with a 1.56 ERA since June, tops in the major leagues.
A 10-year veteran, Pettitte has 30 post-season starts with a record of 13-8 and a 4.05 ERA.
Hudson has not pitched against the Astros this season. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound 30-year-old is 1-2 with a 3.44 ERA in seven playoff appearances, all with Oakland. The Braves are 7-2 in Hudson?s last nine starts.
This tight pitching matchup has meant a fairly low posted total of 7.5 runs. However, something to keep in mind is that the umpire calling this game will be Joe Brinkman, who has an 18-11 OVER/UNDER record this season.
The Braves are hometown favorites in this contest at -111, with the Astros dogs at +101.
The runline has Atlanta at -1.5 +200 and Houston at +1.5 -240. If you?re considering taking the runline, here?s an interesting tidbit for you: the Astros have won 25 one-run games this season and have played in 78 games decided by one or two runs.
The Astros enter the post-season having won four of their last six games. Meanwhile, the Braves have lost five of their last six including four straight.
Good luck with your bets.
BetWWTS
